Word
taciturn
Phoneticstac·i·turn, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtæsɪˌtɝn/
UK/tˈæsɪtˌɜːn/
Definition
adj. describing someone who is very quiet and does not like to talk much. You use this for a person who seems naturally silent or reserved.
adj. habitually reserved or uncommunicative in speech. Often implies a temperament that is naturally silent or disinclined to engage in conversation.
Examples
“The old fisherman was a taciturn man who rarely spoke.”
“Although he was a brilliant engineer, his taciturn nature made it difficult for him to lead team meetings.”
“The protagonist of the novel is a taciturn detective whose silence is often mistaken for coldness, though it actually stems from a deep-seated distrust of others.”
Examples
simple
“The old fisherman was a taciturn man who rarely spoke.”
contextual
“Although he was a brilliant engineer, his taciturn nature made it difficult for him to lead team meetings.”
complex
“The protagonist of the novel is a taciturn detective whose silence is often mistaken for coldness, though it actually stems from a deep-seated distrust of others.”
Usage
Typically used to describe a person's personality or temperament; often follows linking verbs like 'remain' or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“Nick was so taciturn and hard to know that I couldn’t say a lot of uplifting stuff about him.” “A taciturn man at the best of times, Clarke still finds the experience difficult to talk about, but he’s on easier ground praising his bandmate’s support.” “His character is taciturn, a mountain of a man who seems both fully controlled and ready to erupt, and Cage keeps you on your toes the whole way.” “Roger Federer : dignified and taciturn, grunting only on the most important points.” Etymology
Back-formation from taciturnity, itself from Middle English taciturnite and Latin taciturnitās; or alternatively from French taciturne, reinforced by Latin taciturnus, from tacitus ("secret, tacit").
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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